3 Tips for Getting More Effective Exercise at Home

Improving health and overall fitness is a top goal for many people. Some people join a gym or sign up to work with a personal trainer. Others prefer to exercise alone or need to exercise at home to save money. Unfortunately, working out at home may seem ineffective in many cases, and this can lead to decreased motivation and minimal results. If you plan to start working out at home or if you want to get more out of your current home-based fitness regimen, apply these tips to your efforts.

Give Yourself Plenty of Room
The primary exercise area for many people is the living room. However, as large as this room may be, it likely is cramped with many furnishings and electronics. Some people exercise in the garage as an alternative. If you do not want to park your car in the garage, you can easily create a home gym in this large space. An alternative area that is often overlooked is the patio. A covered patio can be used year-round and is ideal for jumping rope, lifting weights and more.

Use a Fitness App
An effective workout plan is one that covers all major muscle groups regularly and that works minor muscles as well. Rather than sticking to the same core exercises with each workout, switch things up. Several well-designed fitness apps can be downloaded to your phone and used without cost. Through these apps, you can create a customized workout or follow an available plan that targets different areas of the body with comprehensive results.

Invest in the Right Gear
Some people who exercise at home have an elaborate gym in a dedicated workout. You do not need to spend a fortune investing in high-end machines or have a dedicated room to exercise in. Instead, invest in a kettle bell, a jump rope, bands, dumbbells, a bocce ball and other smaller, affordable equipment. You can give yourself an amazing workout with these smaller items that are easy to store away when not in use.

Remember that your home-based workouts do not need to be limited to your property. You can also pound the pavement by walking at a brisk pace or by jogging. Cycling and even swimming laps at the neighborhood pool are great activities that you can work into your strength training and stretching activities at home. Remember to vary your activities to retain interest and to push yourself in unique ways regularly.

Author's Bio:

Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most of her time hiking, biking, and gardening. For more information contact Brooke via Twitter @BrookeChaplan.